Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations.
Introduce OTs to the Work Experience Survey for Rheumatic Condition, and discuss the major barriers in the home and community context reported by people with arthritis and rheumatological conditions.
Primary Author and Speaker: Rawan Alheresh
Contributing Authors: Julie Keysor
PURPOSE: The Work Experience Survey for Rheumatic Conditions (WES-RC), a structured interview tool used to identify work and home barriers, when used with a structured educational and counseling approach decreases premature unemployment (work disability) among working adults with rheumatic conditions at risk of job loss. Social, policy, and home life barriers are included in the tool since these factors can influence participation in work. The objective of this study is to describe the barriers reported for the social, policy, and home life domains of the WES-RC from participants in a recent randomized controlled trial.
DESIGN: This is a descriptive study using data extracted from participants in the intervention arm of the largest non-pharmacological intervention study to date showing a positive effect of an educational counseling intervention delivered by occupational and physical therapists with decreasing work disability among people with arthritis and rheumatological conditions. Employed individuals with self-reported arthritis or rheumatological conditions, who were working at least part time (more than 15 hours a week), lived or worked in Massachusetts, and who were randomized to the intervention arm were included in this study.
METHOD: Descriptive statistics of the WES-RC domains addressing barriers in the home and community were computed using frequency statistics. The WES-RC’s domains of i) relationships with people at work, ii) working conditions and company policies, and iii) job/career/home life. Frequencies of the most reported barrier in each of these sections will be presented.
RESULTS: The WES-RC structured interview tool was completed with 143 participants in the intervention arm a randomized controlled trial aiming to decrease work disability for people with arthritis. The mean age for this study sample was 50.3 (range 23-66). 73% were female, 66% white, 68% not currently married and 59% had a college degree or higher. Osteoarthritis was the most commonly reported condition (43%). Feeling self-conscious about health condition, limitations, or appearance, and being pleasant and upbeat with others when in pain or tired were the most reported barriers within the relationship with people at work section, reported 53 (37%), and 47 (33%) times respectively. Cold temperature and air conditioning were the most reported barrier within the working conditions/company policy section reported 61 times (43%). Getting household work and/ or shopping done, and consideration of what work options if needed or wanted to change jobs were the two most reported barriers within the job/career/home life section reported 49 (34%) and 42 (29%) times respectively.
CONCLUSION: Assisting individuals with arthritis at risk of job loss is a major intervention area for occupational therapists. This study identifies the social, policy, and home life barriers people with arthritis may endure. The findings of our study can assist clinicians and researchers in working with arthritis populations in identifying the areas of intervention to reduce work barriers.
References
Keysor, J. J., AlHeresh, R., Vaughan, M., LaValley, M. P., & Allaire, S. (2016). The Work-It Study for people with arthritis: Study protocol and baseline sample characteristics. Work (Reading, Mass.), 54(2), 473–480. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-162331
Keysor, J. J., LaValley, M. P., Brown, C., Felson, D. T., AlHeresh, R. A., Vaughan, M. W., Yood, R., Reed, J. I., & Allaire, S. J. (2018). Efficacy of a Work Disability Prevention Program for People with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Single-Blind Parallel-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthritis care & research, 70(7), 1022–1029. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23423
